What this medicine is used for

This medicine is used to treat moderately severe to severe Alzheimer's disease (AD). AD can be described as a general decline in all areas of mental ability.

Ask your doctor if you have any questions about why it has been prescribed for you. Your doctor may have prescribed this medicine for another reason.

This medicine is only available with a doctor's prescription.

How it works

Memantine belongs to a group of medicines called N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonists. It is thought to work by protecting NMDA receptors in the brain against high levels of the chemical glutamate, which could be the cause of brain degeneration. NMDA receptors are involved in the transmission of nerve signals within the brain, e.g. in learning and memory.

This medicine should improve your thinking capacity and your ability to remember.

Use in children

Before you take this medicine

When you must not take it

Do not take this medicine if:

You have a seizure disorder or a history of seizures (fits or epilepsy).

You are hypersensitive to, or have had an allergic reaction to, memantine or any of the ingredients listed at the end of this leaflet.Symptoms of an allergic reaction may include: cough, shortness of breath, wheezing or difficulty breathing; swelling of the face, lips, tongue, throat or other parts of the body; rash, itching or hives on the skin; fainting; or hay fever-like symptoms.If you think you are having an allergic reaction, do not take any more of the medicine and contact your doctor immediately or go to the Accident and Emergency department at the nearest hospital.

The expiry date (EXP) printed on the pack has passed.

The packaging is torn, shows signs of tampering or it does not look quite right.

Before you start to take it

Before you start taking this medicine, tell your doctor if:

You have allergies to:- any other medicines- any other substances, such as foods, preservatives or dyes.

You have or have had any medical conditions, especially the following:- a history of convulsions or are at risk of epilepsy- kidney problems- severe bladder infection- liver problems- heart or blood vessel problems- high blood pressure.

You are currently pregnant or you plan to become pregnant. Do not take this medicine whilst pregnant until you and your doctor have discussed the risks and benefits involved.

You are currently breastfeeding or you plan to breastfeed. Do not take this medicine until you and your doctor have discussed the risks and benefits involved.

You have recently changed your diet or intend to change your diet substantially, for example if you wish to become a vegetarian.

If you are lactose intolerant, contact your doctor before taking this medicine. The 10 mg strength tablet contains lactose.

You are planning to have surgery or an anaesthetic.

You are currently receiving or are planning to receive dental treatment.

You are taking or are planning to take any other medicines. This includes vitamins and supplements that are available from your pharmacy, supermarket or health food shop.

Some medicines may interact with memantine. These include:

medicines used to treat stomach cramps or spasms, or travel sickness (anticholinergics)

atropine, a medicine used in some eye drops

levodopa, bromocriptine, amantadine and other medicines for the treatment of Parkinson's disease

anticonvulsants and barbiturates, used to treat epilepsy or fits

ketamine, an anaesthetic agent

medicines used to treat certain mental and emotional conditions (psychoses or schizophrenia)

dantrolene and baclofen, used to treat leg cramps or to relax muscles

dextromethorphan, contained in cough, cold and flu medicines

quinidine and procainamide, used to treat irregular heart beat

nicotine, contained in patches or gums or if you smoke

cimetidine and ranitidine, used to treat stomach ulcers or reflux

urinary alkalinisers, used to treat urinary tract infection

quinine, a medicine used to treat malaria

anticoagulant medications such as warfarin, used to prevent blood clots.

If you are taking any of these you may need a different dose or you may need to take different medicines.

Do not stop taking your medicine or change your dosage without first checking with your doctor.

When to take it

Swallow the tablets with a full glass of water. Do not chew them.

It does not matter if you take it before, with or after food.

How to take it

Taking your medicine at the same time each day will have the best effect. It will also help you remember when to take it.

How long to take it for

Continue taking your medicine for as long as your doctor tells you.

Make sure you have enough to last over weekends and holidays.

If you forget to take it

If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the dose you missed and take your next dose when you are meant to.

If you are not sure what to do, ask your doctor or pharmacist.

Do not take a double dose to make up for missed doses.

This may increase the chance of you experiencing side effects.

If you have trouble remembering to take your medicine, ask your pharmacist for some hints.

If you take too much (overdose)

If you think that you or anyone else may have taken too much of this medicine, immediately telephone your doctor or the Poisons Information Centre (Tel: 13 11 26 for Australia) for advice. Alternatively, go to the Accident and Emergency Department at your nearest hospital.

Do this even if there are no signs of discomfort or poisoning. You may need urgent medical attention.

Symptoms of an overdose may include feeling dizzy, tired or having a headache. You may feel confused and see, feel or hear things that are not there. You could also have a seizure.

you are going to have surgery or an anaesthetic or are going into hospital.

Your doctor may occasionally do tests to make sure the medicine is working and to prevent side effects. Go to your doctor regularly for a check-up.

Tell any other doctors, dentists and pharmacists who are treating you that you take this medicine.

Things you must not do

Do not:

Give this medicine to anyone else, even if their symptoms seem similar to yours.

Take your medicine to treat any other complaints unless your doctor or pharmacist tells you to.

Stop taking your medicine, or lower the dosage, without checking with your doctor.

Things to be careful of

Be careful when driving or operating machinery until you know how this medicine affects you.

Your doctor will discuss with you whether your condition allows you to drive or operate machinery safely. Furthermore, memantine may change your reactivity which may make driving or using machinery inappropriate.

Alzheimer's disease has been associated with depression and thoughts of suicide. All mentions of suicide or violence by a patient must be taken seriously.

If you or someone you know demonstrates suicide-related behaviour while taking memantine, contact a health care provider immediately, or go to the nearest hospital for treatment.

Possible side effects

Tell your doctor as soon as possible if you do not feel well while you are taking memantine or if you have any concerns.

Do not be alarmed by the following lists of side effects. You may not experience any of them. All medicines may have some unwanted side effects. Sometimes they are serious, but most of the time, they are not.

Tell your doctor if you notice any of the following:

tiredness, sleeplessness or problems sleeping

dizziness

diarrhoea, vomiting, or nausea

loss of appetite

feeling anxious

conjunctivitis

inflammation of the liver and/or changes in liver function tests.

Tell your doctor as soon as possible if you notice any of the following.

These may be serious side effects. You may need urgent medical attention:

swelling of hands, ankles or feet

headache

feeling confused

seeing, feeling or hearing things that are not there

having fixed, irrational ideas that are not shared by others

depression or suicidal thoughts.

Other side effects not listed above may occur in some people.

Allergic reactions

If you think you are having an allergic reaction to memantine, do not take any more of this medicine and tell your doctor immediately or go to the Accident and Emergency department at your nearest hospital.

Symptoms of an allergic reaction may include some or all of the following:

Related information - APO-Memantine Tablets

23 Mar2015 –
Information on medicines available in Australia containing memantine hydrochloride, including our latest evidence-based information and resources for health professionals and consumers. The active ingredient is the chemical in a medicine that makes it work. Medicines that contain the same active ingredient can be available under more than one brand name. Brands include both active ingredients and inactive ingredients. You'll find information about brands of medicines that contain memantine hydrochloride below, including their consumer medicine information (CMI) leaflets.

Brand information

Downloads

What is a consumer medicine information (CMI) leaflet?

A consumer medicine information (CMI) leaflet tells you about the side effects of a particular medicine, what it is used for and how to use it, and is written according to Australian government standards.

Reasonable care is taken to provide accurate information at the time of creation. This information is not intended as a substitute for medical advice and should not be exclusively relied on to manage or diagnose a medical condition. NPS MedicineWise disclaims all liability (including for negligence) for any loss, damage or injury resulting from reliance on or use of this information. Read our full disclaimer.